About the Challenge
Creative Lab is an 8-hour AI coding hackathon hosted at UC San Diego, in collaboration with TRAE.ai and Z.ai.
This event explores a new way of building with AI — "Vibe Coding" — where creativity, rapid prototyping, and collaboration take center stage.
Instead of focusing on complex implementation details, participants are encouraged to:
• Start with a real idea or problem
• Use AI tools to accelerate development
• Turn concepts into working prototypes
Whether you're building an AI agent, a web app, or a creative tool, this is your chance to experiment and bring your ideas to life.
No prior hackathon experience is required.
What You'll Experience
In just 8 hours, you will go through a full product-building cycle:
• Product demos & technical sharing
• Hands-on building session (3 hours)
• Mentorship support during development
• Final project showcase & lightning demo
By the end of the event, your idea will become a working prototype that you can continue to build on.
Who Should Join
This event is open to all students, including:
• Beginners interested in AI and coding
• Developers exploring AI applications
• Students interested in startups or product building
We especially encourage participation from students of diverse backgrounds — creativity comes from different perspectives.
Tools & Technologies
Participants are encouraged to build using modern AI tools, including:
• LLMs / AI APIs
• AI-powered IDEs (e.g., TRAE)
• Web technologies
• Any open-source tools
You are free to choose your stack.
Event Schedule (March 31, 2026)
13:30 – 14:00
Check-in & networking
14:00 – 14:30
Opening & introduction
14:30 – 15:15
Product demo & tech sharing
15:15 – 18:15
Hands-on building session
18:15 – 19:00
Submission & break
19:00 – 19:45
Project presentations
19:45 – 20:30
Awards & closing
20:30 – 21:15
Networking
Submission Requirements
To complete your submission, you must provide:
• A project demo (live or video)
• A short description of your project
• (Optional) GitHub repository
Judging Criteria
Projects will be evaluated based on:
• Creativity & originality
• Technical implementation
• Practical impact
• Presentation quality
Additional awards may be announced during the event.
Location
UC San Diego
RIMAC Triton Conference Room
9860 Hopkins Dr, La Jolla, CA
Final Note
This is not just a hackathon — it's a space to explore how AI is changing the way we build.
Come with an idea, curiosity, and creativity.
Leave with a working product.
Hosted on Devpost